Six pairs of eyes look at me, three large wolfish heads laying at the corner of the bed while I blink, confused. Then, my heart explodes, relief so strong that it nearly knocks me over.
The Hadeon sits there, spiked tail scrapping along the granite, massive paws tense as if to pounce. I don’t let him have the chance, climbing over the edge to hug him.
The coarse bristles rub my skin raw, but I don’t care. He smells like sulfur and fire, a scent that reminds me of safety and protection, even though it should scare me. A beast I barely know and yet in my bones, I know him being here means I’m safer.
One head rest on my shoulder, the other sniffing my skull. The fire in his chest ignites, a pleasant burn that warms me against the sweltering Shadowlands heat. It’s devotion and loyalty, forcing tears to wet my eyes.
“You’re here,” I whisper, letting him nuzzle me. “How did you get in?”
The royals weren’t going to let him inside until the opportune moment. Did he sneak in?
“I see you found our new guest.” Oslo leans in the doorway, broad shoulders blocking any light. Unlike before, he’s not in his armor, but simple training leathers. “He was quite persistent in coming inside.”
One head growls while another glares at the male. None of them try to obliterate him with his hellfire breath, though. Oslo must be worthy to live, and they’re not happy with it.
“Thank you,” I mutter into the beast’s neck, using the Hadeon’s body to hide my barely clothed figure.
After our fight in the hallway, and very public performance, we returned to our bedchambers to sleep. A current of disappointment runs through my body at seeing Kaden’s side empty. We still have so much to talk about, but if he’s to lead a coup, to get the people he needs for it to work, it leaves very little time for us.
A trickling of adoration and pride shines in my heart. He’s cruel, ruthless, but I can see his inner light. And he trusts me with this now.
“It was not me.” He shrugs, looking to the dresser. His finger traces the necklace thoughtfully. “My nephew thought you might want a friendly face in the palace. It’s hard to be in a new home, alone.”
“Especiallythishome.”
Oslo smirks and it’s hard not to see the family resemblance. He holds up the gem, inspecting it. “Serafina the First would be pleased to know a strong woman wears her crown.”
“Crown?” I don’t release the beast, still unsure what will happen if I let go. In such a short time, he’s become so important to me.
Oslo’s kind eyes glance to me, reminding me of Reid. “Serafina never wanted to wear a crown, much like Kaden. Putting a crown on made them feel above their people, when all they wanted to do was help. Instead, she had the crown melted down and remade into something morefitting. A necklace.Thisnecklace.”
My chest constricts, body stilling as if frozen. Kaden put acrownon me and brought me into the throne room. A bold power move, he was showing everyone who I was before I even knew it. Showing his father, the lords, who I would be—who I was tohim.
He said it would keep me safe. I didn’t realize how much he gave to me, the power, the presence, for that safety. After I yelled, claimed to hate him, fought him at every turn, he still crowned me as a queen. He still gave me something precious—he gave me power in a room full of predators.
I groan, rubbing my face into the beast. It’s too much. The hate and anger war with the love and admiration deep inside my soul for the heir. But if I’m being honest, the love is winning out. “Are there any more secrets he’s failed to tell me?”
Chuckling, the general nods. “Plenty, I’m afraid. Will you walk with me?” he asks, gesturing to the door. “We have much to discuss.”
He doesn’t wait for me to respond, returning to the sitting room, leaving me with privacy. I could deny him, ignore his request.
But I have this feeling, a pull in my gut that following the general will only help me. Gods’ will telling me this is where my path leads.Again.
Maybe, even understand the heir without the conflicting soul-bond tether or the divine connection of mates forcing me to bed him or suffocate him under a pillow.
Locking eyes with the Hadeon, I sigh. “Will you come?”
One head licks my chin, spilt tongue rough like gravel. I smile anyway and head for the bathroom.
“Hasanyone told you about the Queen?”
Shaking my head, he nods, laying the flower on to a barren patch of dirt as we sit in the spot of the garden Fee showed me. “You should know about her. To this day, she’s revered. She was a magnificentwoman, my sister-in-law. She was fierce like Fee, kind like Reid, and honorable like Kaden.”
I sit, rapt, watching the emotions play against his ageless face. Here, talking of a woman long gone, he doesn’t seem like a General of a formidable army, but a male, simply speaking of better days.
“Zelos was lucky to have her as a wife,” he remarks. “Unfortunately, my brother didn’t realize it.”
I raise my eyebrow, watching him sit beside me on the boulder. “Why are you telling me this?”
